Yuddha Kanda · Sarga 119 of 128 · 39 verses
Dasharatha Appears
Hearing those auspicious words of Raghava’s, Maheshvara speaks still more auspicious words: lotus-eyed, mighty-armed, broad-chested scorcher of foes, by good fortune you have done this deed, best of upholders of dharma; by good fortune you have driven away in battle the terrible, growing darkness of the whole world, the fear born of Ravana. Comfort wretched Bharata and glorious Kausalya, see Kaikeyi and Sumitra, Lakshmana’s mother; take up the kingship in Ayodhya, gladden your friends, establish your line in the Ikshvaku family; then, having performed the horse sacrifice and won unsurpassed fame and given wealth to the brahmins, you should go to heaven. Here in his aerial chariot is King Dasharatha, your father, Kakutstha, your famous elder in the human world; the glorious one has gone to Indra’s world, saved by you, his son. Salute him with your brother Lakshmana. Hearing Mahadeva, Raghava with Lakshmana bows to his father, standing at the top of the aerial chariot; the lord sees his father shining with his own splendour, wearing spotless clothes. Filled with great joy, the king, seeing his son dearer than life, takes him onto his lap on his fine seat, embraces him with both arms and says: heaven and the honour of the best gods mean little to me without you, Rama; I tell you truly. Seeing you today with your enemies killed, your heart fulfilled, your forest dwelling completed, my joy is supreme. The words Kaikeyi spoke to have you exiled still stand in my heart; but seeing you well and embracing you with Lakshmana, I am freed from grief today, like the sun from mist. I have been saved by you, my son, a good son and great soul, as the righteous brahmin Kahoda was saved by Ashtavakra. Now I understand, gentle one, that the lords of the gods appointed you, the Supreme Person, for the killing of Ravana. Kausalya will surely have her wish fulfilled when she sees you, Rama, come home from the forest, slayer of enemies; the men who see you enter the city and consecrated as lord of the earth will surely have their wishes. I long to see you united with Bharata, loving, strong, pure and righteous. You have spent fourteen years in the forest, gentle one, living with Sita and Lakshmana for my sake; your forest life is over, your vow fulfilled; by killing Ravana in battle you have pleased the gods. You have done a praiseworthy deed and won fame, destroyer of enemies; established in the kingdom with your brothers, may you have a long life.
With joined palms Rama says to the king: be gracious, knower of dharma, to Kaikeyi and Bharata. The terrible curse you spoke to Kaikeyi, “I renounce you with your son”, let it not touch Kaikeyi and her son, lord. The great king agrees, embraces Lakshmana and says: by serving Rama devotedly with the Vaidehi Sita you have given me great joy and gained the fruit of dharma. You will gain dharma and great fame on earth, knower of dharma, and, with Rama pleased with you, heaven and the highest greatness. Serve Rama, bless you, increaser of Sumitra’s joy; Rama is always devoted to the good of the whole world. These three worlds with Indra, the siddhas and the supreme sages salute and worship the great-souled Supreme Person. This is what is called the unmanifest, imperishable, measured as Brahman, the heart of the gods, the secret, gentle one: Rama, scorcher of foes. You have gained the practice of dharma and great fame by serving him so, undistracted, with the Vaidehi Sita. Then the king calls his daughter-in-law, standing with joined palms, “Daughter”, and says gently: Vaidehi, you must not be angry about this rejection; Rama did it for your purification, wishing your good. What you have done, daughter, very hard to do, is the mark of your conduct, and it will surpass the fame of all other women. You surely need no instruction in serving your husband, but I must say it: he is your highest deity. Having so instructed his two sons and Sita, King Dasharatha, the Raghava, goes in his aerial chariot to Indra’s world; the great-souled, best of kings, his body thrilled with glory, taking leave of his sons and Sita, goes to the world of the chief of the gods.
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एतच्छ्रुत्वा शुभं वाक्यं राघवेणानुभाषितम् । ततः शुभतरं वाक्यं व्याजहार महेश्वरः ॥ १ ॥
Hearing these auspicious words spoken by Raghava, then Maheshvara spoke still more auspicious words:
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पुष्कराक्ष महाबाहो महावक्षः परंतप । दिष्ट्या कृतमिदं कर्म त्वया धर्मभृतां वर ॥ २ ॥
“Lotus-eyed, mighty-armed, broad-chested scorcher of foes, by good fortune this deed has been done by you, best of the upholders of dharma.
दिष्ट्या सर्वस्य लोकस्य प्रवृद्धं दारुणं तमः । अपवृत्तं त्वया संख्ये राम रावणजं भयम् ॥ ३ ॥
“By good fortune the terrible darkness of the whole world, grown great, the fear born of Ravana, has been driven away by you in battle, Rama.
आश्वास्य भरतं दीनं कौसल्यां च यशस्विनीम् । कैकेयीं च सुमित्रां च दृष्ट्वा लक्ष्मणमातरम् ॥ ४ ॥
“Having comforted wretched Bharata and glorious Kausalya, having seen Kaikeyi and Sumitra, mother of Lakshmana,
प्राप्य राज्यमयोध्यायां नन्दयित्वा सुहृज्जनम् । इक्ष्वाकूणां कुले वंशं स्थापयित्वा महाबल ॥ ५ ॥
“having obtained the kingdom in Ayodhya, having gladdened your friends, having established your line in the family of the Ikshvakus, mighty one,
इष्ट्वा तुरगमेधेन प्राप्य चानुत्तमं यशः । ब्राह्मणेभ्यो धनं दत्त्वा त्रिदिवं गन्तुमर्हसि ॥ ६ ॥
“having sacrificed with the horse sacrifice and obtained unsurpassed fame, having given wealth to the brahmins, you should go to heaven.
एष राजा दशरथो विमानस्थः पिता तव । काकुत्स्थ मानुषे लोके गुरुस्तव महायशाः ॥ ७ ॥
“Here is King Dasharatha, your father, in his aerial chariot, Kakutstha, your very famous elder in the human world.
इन्द्रलोकं गतः श्रीमांस्त्वया पुत्रेण तारितः । लक्ष्मणेन सह भ्रात्रा त्वमेनमभिवादय ॥ ८ ॥
“The glorious one has gone to Indra’s world, saved by you, his son; with your brother Lakshmana, salute him.”
महादेववचः श्रुत्वा राघवः सहलक्ष्मणः । विमानशिखरस्थस्य प्रणाममकरोत् पितुः ॥ ९ ॥
Hearing Mahadeva’s words, Raghava with Lakshmana made obeisance to his father, standing at the top of the aerial chariot.
दीप्यमानं स्वया लक्ष्म्या विरजोऽम्बरधारिणम् । लक्ष्मणेन सह भ्रात्रा ददर्श पितरं प्रभुः ॥ १० ॥
The lord, with his brother Lakshmana, saw his father, shining with his own glory, wearing spotless clothes.
हर्षेण महताऽऽविष्टो विमानस्थो महीपतिः । प्राणैः प्रियतरं दृष्ट्वा पुत्रं दशरथस्तदा ॥ ११ ॥
Filled with great joy, the lord of the earth, standing in the aerial chariot, Dasharatha, seeing then his son, dearer than life,
आरोप्याङ्के महाबाहुर्वरासनगतः प्रभुः । बाहुभ्यां सम्परिष्वज्य ततो वाक्यं समाददे ॥ १२ ॥
placing him on his lap, the mighty-armed lord, seated on his fine seat, embracing him with both arms, then began to speak:
न मे स्वर्गो बहु मतः सम्मानश्च सुरर्षभैः । त्वया राम विहीनस्य सत्यं प्रतिशृणोमि ते ॥ १३ ॥
“Heaven is not much esteemed by me, nor honour from the bulls among the gods, being without you, Rama; I promise you truly.
अद्य त्वां निहतामित्रं दृष्ट्वा सम्पूर्णमानसम् । निस्तीर्णवनवासं च प्रीतिरासीत् परा मम ॥ १४ ॥
“Today, seeing you with your enemies killed, your mind fulfilled, your forest life crossed over, my joy is supreme.
कैकेय्या यानि चोक्तानि वाक्यानि वदतां वर । तव प्रव्राजनार्थानि स्थितानि हृदये मम ॥ १५ ॥
“The words spoken by Kaikeyi, best of speakers, for your exile, remain in my heart.
त्वां तु दृष्ट्वा कुशलिनं परिष्वज्य सलक्ष्मणम् । अद्य दुःखाद् विमुक्तोऽस्मि नीहारादिव भास्करः ॥ १६ ॥
“But seeing you well and embracing you with Lakshmana, today I am freed from grief, like the sun from mist.
तारितोऽहं त्वया पुत्र सुपुत्रेण महात्मना । अष्टावक्रेण धर्मात्मा कहोलो ब्राह्मणो यथा ॥ १७ ॥
“I have been saved by you, son, a good son, a great soul, as the righteous brahmin Kahoda was by Ashtavakra.
इदानीं च विजानामि यथा सौम्य सुरेश्वरैः । वधार्थं रावणस्येह विहितं पुरुषोत्तमम् ॥ १८ ॥
“And now I understand, gentle one, that the Supreme Person was appointed here by the lords of the gods for the killing of Ravana.
सिद्धार्था खलु कौसल्या या त्वां राम गृहं गतम् । वनान्निवृत्तं संहृष्टा द्रक्ष्यते शत्रुसूदनम् ॥ १९ ॥
“Kausalya has surely had her purpose fulfilled, who, delighted, will see you, Rama, come home, returned from the forest, slayer of enemies.
सिद्धार्थाः खलु ते राम नरा ये त्वां पुरीं गतम् । राज्ये चैवाभिषिक्तं च द्रक्ष्यन्ते वसुधाधिपम् ॥ २० ॥
“Surely the men will have their purposes fulfilled, Rama, who will see you come to the city and consecrated in the kingship as lord of the earth.
अनुरक्तेन बलिना शुचिना धर्मचारिणा । इच्छेयं त्वामहं द्रष्टुं भरतेन समागतम् ॥ २१ ॥
“I would wish to see you united with Bharata, loving, strong, pure, walking in dharma.
चतुर्दश समाः सौम्य वने निर्यातितास्त्वया । वसता सीतया सार्धं मत्प्रीत्या लक्ष्मणेन च ॥ २२ ॥
“Fourteen years, gentle one, have been passed by you in the forest, living with Sita and with Lakshmana, for love of me.
निवृत्तवनवासोऽसि प्रतिज्ञा पूरिता त्वया । रावणं च रणे हत्वा देवताः परितोषिताः ॥ २३ ॥
“Your forest life is ended; your vow has been fulfilled by you; and by killing Ravana in battle the gods have been satisfied.
कृतं कर्म यशः श्लाघ्यं प्राप्तं ते शत्रुसूदन । भ्रातृभिः सह राज्यस्थो दीर्घमायुरवाप्नुहि ॥ २४ ॥
“A deed has been done, praiseworthy fame gained by you, destroyer of enemies; established in the kingdom with your brothers, obtain a long life.”
इति ब्रुवाणं राजानं रामः प्राञ्जलिरब्रवीत् । कुरु प्रसादं धर्मज्ञ कैकय्या भरतस्य च ॥ २५ ॥
To the king speaking so, Rama, with joined palms, said: “Be gracious, knower of dharma, to Kaikeyi and to Bharata.
सपुत्रां त्वां त्यजामीति यदुक्ता कैकयी त्वया । स शापः कैकयीं घोरः सपुत्रां न स्पृशेत् प्रभो ॥ २६ ॥
“’I renounce you with your son’: as Kaikeyi was told by you, let that terrible curse not touch Kaikeyi with her son, lord.”
तथेति स महाराजो राममुक्त्वा कृताञ्जलिम् । लक्ष्मणं च परिष्वज्य पुनर्वाक्यमुवाच ह ॥ २७ ॥
Saying “So be it” to Rama, who stood with joined palms, that great king, embracing Lakshmana, spoke again:
रामं शुश्रूषता भक्त्या वैदेह्या सह सीतया । कृता मम महाप्रीतिः प्राप्तं धर्मफलं च ते ॥ २८ ॥
“By serving Rama with devotion, with Sita the Vaidehi, great joy has been given to me, and the fruit of dharma gained by you.
धर्मं प्राप्स्यसि धर्मज्ञ यशश्च विपुलं भुवि । रामे प्रसन्ने स्वर्गं च महिमानं तथोत्तमम् ॥ २९ ॥
“You will gain dharma, knower of dharma, and great fame on earth, and, Rama being pleased, heaven and likewise the highest greatness.
रामं शुश्रूष भद्रं ते सुमित्रानन्दवर्धन । रामः सर्वस्य लोकस्य हितेष्वभिरतः सदा ॥ ३० ॥
“Serve Rama, bless you, increaser of Sumitra’s joy; Rama is always devoted to the good of the whole world.
एते सेन्द्रास्त्रयो लोकाः सिद्धाश्च परमर्षयः । अभिवाद्य महात्मानमर्चन्ति पुरुषोत्तमम् ॥ ३१ ॥
“These three worlds with Indra, the siddhas and the supreme sages, saluting the great soul, worship the Supreme Person.
एतत् तदुक्तमव्यक्तमक्षरं ब्रह्मसम्मितम् । देवानां हृदयं सौम्य गुह्यं रामः परंतपः ॥ ३२ ॥
“This is what is called the unmanifest, the imperishable, measured as Brahman, the heart of the gods, the secret, gentle one: Rama, scorcher of foes.
अवाप्तधर्माचरणं यशश्च विपुलं त्वया । एवं शुश्रूषताव्यग्रं वैदेह्या सह सीतया ॥ ३३ ॥
“The practice of dharma and great fame have been gained by you, serving him undistracted like this, with Sita the Vaidehi.”
इत्युक्त्वा लक्ष्मणं राजा स्नुषां बद्धाञ्जलिं स्थिताम् । पुत्रीत्याभाष्य मधुरं शनैरेनामुवाच ह ॥ ३४ ॥
Having said this to Lakshmana, the king, calling his daughter-in-law, standing with joined palms, “Daughter”, spoke to her slowly and sweetly:
कर्तव्यो न तु वैदेहि मन्युस्त्यागमिमं प्रति । रामेणेदं विशुद्ध्यर्थं कृतं वै त्वद्धितैषिणा ॥ ३५ ॥
“Vaidehi, you should not feel anger about this rejection; this was done by Rama for your purification, wishing your good.
सुदुष्करमिदं पुत्रि तव चारित्रलक्षणम् । कृतं यत् तेऽन्यनारीणां यशो ह्यभिभविष्यति ॥ ३६ ॥
“This very hard thing, daughter, is the mark of your conduct, which has been done; it will surpass the fame of other women.
न त्वं कामं समाधेया भर्तृशुश्रूषणं प्रति । अवश्यं तु मया वाच्यमेष ते दैवतं परम् ॥ ३७ ॥
“You certainly need no instruction about serving your husband; but I must say it: he is your supreme deity.”
इति प्रतिसमादिश्य पुत्रौ सीतां च राघवः । इन्द्रलोकं विमानेन ययौ दशरथो नृपः ॥ ३८ ॥
Having so instructed his two sons and Sita, King Dasharatha, the Raghava, went by aerial chariot to Indra’s world.
विमानमास्थाय महानुभावः श्रिया च संहृष्टतनुर्नृपोत्तमः । आमन्त्र्य पुत्रौ सह सीतया च जगाम देवप्रवरस्य लोकम् ॥ ३९ ॥
Mounting the aerial chariot, the great-souled best of kings, his body thrilled with glory, taking leave of his two sons and of Sita, went to the world of the foremost of the gods.